“Fitness is great for all levels, ages and breeds. Every dog can benefit from fitness,” says Brittni Heywood who is a certified dog trainer, certified professional canine fitness trainer and the owner of Potential Unleashed in the Boise, Idaho region.

It’s time to get physical! Love it or hate it, exercise is just as important for your dog as it is for you. I had always been into some type of sport. In middle school it was basketball. In high school it was track. In college it was rugby. Then, adulthood came and now it’s a struggle! I do love hiking though, and so does my dog Hannah. This is somewhat of a saving grace since I know how important exercise is to our overall quality of life. The Pet Health Network points out that obesity can lead to future health issues like arthritis, heart and breathing issues, and can even take two years off your dog’s life! 

I love talking to other pet professionals and reading articles from experts about pet health, so I decided to share some fitness tips. Of course, always check with your veterinarian if you have questions or concerns about beginning a fitness program with your pet.

Watch out for these fitness myths  

Exercise is great for both you and your dog! It can help your dog look and feel better, and even make them less nervous when left alone, according to fitness experts at Texas A&M.

There are some misconceptions out there about weight gain or lack of mobility that can cause pet parents to ignore signs that their dog is less fit. Here are just a few. 

• My dog is just getting old. Aging is natural but that doesn’t mean problems going up or down stairs or mobility challenges like difficulty getting into the car or jumping up on the bed are normal. My childhood dog Herc was a one hundred pound pure white Akita who lived to the ripe old age of thirteen. When she got older she slowed down a lot from her two year old crazy self. But, our vet was great and she lived a full thirteen years.

• Fitness and exercise are for injured/athletic/overweight dogs.  Even young or fit-acting dogs can benefit from an exercise plan. My dog is a beagle mix. When we got her around age two she was a bundle of energy! I needed to help her get that out. We had a great regiment of walks in the parks and daycare play dates with other dogs. This helped her from becoming bored, and lethargic. It also helped stimulate and give her a full life.

• It’s normal for senior dogs to put on a little weight. Hannah, my beagle is now approaching eight years old. She did gain a little COVID weight, when she stopped going to daycare regularly. Now, I regulate her food intake but also make sure she goes for plenty of walks and playdates with other doggies. Gaining weight doesn’t have to be a given as your pup gets older. Good nutrition, fitness for fun, and regular exercise all work to help prevent it, too. 

Fitness and exercise go far beyond weight loss. It’s a way to help your Fido improve their cardiovascular health, develop strength and improve body control.  One point that’s definitely not a myth: If you have concerns about your dog’s weight or reduction in mobility, or if you want to significantly increase your pet’s activity level, a visit to your veterinarian for a health checkup  is your first fitness step!

Work at your dog’s pace

Moderation is key. When working on fitness with your dog, pick activities that match their level of fitness, and allow them to choose when they have had enough for that session. They will slowly improve over time. If your dog is done for the day, let them be done, so they continue to enjoy – not dread – their fitness sessions. If it’s clear your dog doesn’t enjoy or is uncomfortable with one of the suggested exercises below, like scary-looking stairs, choose another they enjoy.

Too much exercise can also cause problems, like sore muscles, wear-and-tear on paw pads, joint issues, heat sickness, and your dog could begin to dread rather than enjoy their play sessions with you.

Some eager-to-please-you dogs may keep chasing that ball as long as you continue to throw it, so keep initial fitness sessions short and watch for signs of fatigue. You may need to be the one who says “Time’s up!”

5 Fun Exercises for Canine Fitness

The following exercises are probably quite different from how you normally play with your dog. Remember that going for daily walks and other simple activities are also great ways to help your dog stay fit.

1. Up and down stairs. This is a fantastic exercise for you and your pup. If you don’t have stairs in your home, look around your neighborhood and see where you can have some safe, outside, stair-training fun.

2. Sit to stand. Getting up and down doesn’t seem like exercise until you do it repeatedly. Standing up and sitting back down for 5 minutes or so would be plenty of exercise for me! This task is great for your dog’s back legs and hip strength. Reward them with praise so they know they are correctly responding to your repeated cues.

3. Hide and seek. Calling your pup when you’ve hidden somewhere in the house is a fun game with a lot of fitness benefits. I do this with my dog when I come home and she hears me from upstairs. I run and hide then, she goes around trying to find me. She gets very proud of herself when she does (and lots of praises).

4. Walk, sprint, walk. I like to think of this as canine interval training for energetic pups and people. You can make it a game during walks by changing up the pace. The best part of this exercise is that we can both take this at our pace.

5. Walk backwards. When I walk backwards, I feel kind of strange. Your dog will likely have a similar experience. Learning and practicing “back up” helps them use their muscles in a new way.

Always double-check advice you find online

When you’re looking for ways to improve your pet’s health, always double-check advice you find online  – even mine! – with your veterinarian or an expert source like the Pet Health Network . You can find even more exercise tips here . Also be aware of your dog breed. Some working breeds have high stamina. While, other breeds such as brachiocephalic breeds (with smooshed noses like frenchies and boston terriers) may not do well in the heat or need to take more frequent breaks. Never push your dog too hard. This should be fun for both of you.

Got a great dog exercise or fitness tip? Shoot me an email at amandarae@belovedpetphoto.com.